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feat: economy mode for cost-conscious model selection (#500)#504

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bradygaster merged 2 commits intodevfrom
squad/500-economy-mode
Mar 22, 2026
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feat: economy mode for cost-conscious model selection (#500)#504
bradygaster merged 2 commits intodevfrom
squad/500-economy-mode

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@bradygaster bradygaster commented Mar 22, 2026

Summary

Implements economy mode per issue #500 — a cost-conscious model selection modifier.

Working as EECOM (Core Dev)

Closes #500

What changed

SDK (packages/squad-sdk)

  • config/models.ts: Added \ECONOMY_MODEL_MAP, \�pplyEconomyMode(),
    eadEconomyMode(), \writeEconomyMode(). Updated
    esolveModel()\ with \�conomyMode?\ option that reads from config.json when not explicitly provided.
  • �gents/model-selector.ts: Updated
    esolveModel()\ and \selectModelForTask()\ with \�conomyMode?\ support.

CLI (\packages/squad-cli)

  • **\cli-entry.ts**: Added --economy\ global flag (sets \SQUAD_ECONOMY_MODE=1\ for the session) + \squad economy\ command routing.
  • **\cli/commands/economy.ts**: New \squad economy [on|off]\ command that reads/writes \�conomyMode\ in .squad/config.json.

Tests

  • **\ est/economy-mode.test.ts**: 34 new tests — all passing.

Economy model table

Normal Economy Task
\claude-opus-4.6\ \claude-sonnet-4.5\ Architecture/review
\claude-sonnet-4.6\ \gpt-4.1\ Code writing
\claude-haiku-4.5\ \gpt-4.1\ Docs/mechanical

Design

Economy mode only affects Layers 3–4 (auto-selection). Layers 0–2 (explicit config.json overrides, session directives, charter preferences) are never modified — user intent is always respected.

bradygaster and others added 2 commits March 22, 2026 02:43
@bradygaster
feat: economy mode skill, governance proposals for #500 and #344
1ae753c 
- Add .squad/skills/economy-mode/SKILL.md: Layer 3 cost modifier
  - Economy table shifts code tasks to gpt-4.1/gpt-5-mini, arch to sonnet
  - Activation: session phrase, config.json economyMode:true, or --economy flag
  - Layer 0/1/2 (user intent) always overrides economy mode
  - 💰 indicator in spawn acknowledgments
  - Confidence: low (first implementation)

- Add .squad/decisions/inbox/procedures-economy-mode-governance.md
  - Draft additions to squad.agent.md for Flight review
  - Economy mode paragraph after Layer 0, updated table, 💰 convention
  - Valid models catalog audit findings (claude-sonnet-4.6 missing, etc.)

- Add .squad/decisions/inbox/procedures-personal-squad-governance.md
  - Five gap analysis: Init Mode, consult mode detection, TEAM_ROOT semantics,
    charter templates, missing consult-mode skill
  - Proposed CONSULT_MODE spawn signal and 🧳 acknowledgment format
  - Proposed new consult-mode skill (post-governance-approval)

- Update procedures history.md with learnings

Closes #500
References #344

Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>
@bradygaster
feat: economy mode for cost-conscious model selection (#500)
e35d5a3 
Add economy mode that shifts model selection to cheaper alternatives
at Layer 3 (task-aware auto) and Layer 4 (default). Explicit user
preferences at Layers 0-2 are never overridden.

SDK changes:
- Add ECONOMY_MODEL_MAP and applyEconomyMode() to config/models.ts
- Add readEconomyMode() / writeEconomyMode() for config.json persistence
- Update resolveModel() in config/models.ts with economyMode option
- Update resolveModel() in agents/model-selector.ts with economyMode option

CLI changes:
- Add 'squad economy [on|off]' command for persistent toggle
- Add --economy global flag for session-level activation (SQUAD_ECONOMY_MODE=1)

Tests:
- 34 new tests in test/economy-mode.test.ts (all passing)

Economy model table:
  claude-opus-4.6   -> claude-sonnet-4.5 (architecture/review)
  claude-sonnet-4.6 -> gpt-4.1           (code writing)
  claude-haiku-4.5  -> gpt-4.1           (docs/mechanical)

Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>
bradygaster added a commit that referenced this pull request Mar 22, 2026
@bradygaster
Scribe: Wave 1 decisions merged (#329/#344/#500)
d4e9642 
- Merged 9 inbox decisions → decisions.md (personal squad impl plan, economy mode design/governance, persistent model preference, user directives, template sync, ESM fix)
- Deleted inbox files (merge complete)
- Updated agent histories: Flight (personal squad plan), EECOM (economy mode), Procedures (governance proposals)
- Appended team updates to agent contexts

Fleet Status:
- Flight: Personal squad design validated, 19-task plan across 4 PRs (MVP = PR #1+3)
- EECOM: Economy mode complete (34 tests), PR #504 open
- Procedures: Economy + consult-mode governance drafted, PR #503 open
- Directives: #464 rate limit UX (soft dep #500), #502 bug P1 next-up, triage includes discussions

Ready for execution: EECOM Phase 1, Procedures Phase 3 (concurrent).

Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>
bradygaster added a commit that referenced this pull request Mar 22, 2026
@bradygaster
fix: hard-fail on Node <22.5.0 with clear message (#502) (#506)
b741222 
* feat: economy mode skill, governance proposals for #500 and #344

- Add .squad/skills/economy-mode/SKILL.md: Layer 3 cost modifier
  - Economy table shifts code tasks to gpt-4.1/gpt-5-mini, arch to sonnet
  - Activation: session phrase, config.json economyMode:true, or --economy flag
  - Layer 0/1/2 (user intent) always overrides economy mode
  - 💰 indicator in spawn acknowledgments
  - Confidence: low (first implementation)

- Add .squad/decisions/inbox/procedures-economy-mode-governance.md
  - Draft additions to squad.agent.md for Flight review
  - Economy mode paragraph after Layer 0, updated table, 💰 convention
  - Valid models catalog audit findings (claude-sonnet-4.6 missing, etc.)

- Add .squad/decisions/inbox/procedures-personal-squad-governance.md
  - Five gap analysis: Init Mode, consult mode detection, TEAM_ROOT semantics,
    charter templates, missing consult-mode skill
  - Proposed CONSULT_MODE spawn signal and 🧳 acknowledgment format
  - Proposed new consult-mode skill (post-governance-approval)

- Update procedures history.md with learnings

Closes #500
References #344

Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>

* feat: economy mode for cost-conscious model selection (#500)

Add economy mode that shifts model selection to cheaper alternatives
at Layer 3 (task-aware auto) and Layer 4 (default). Explicit user
preferences at Layers 0-2 are never overridden.

SDK changes:
- Add ECONOMY_MODEL_MAP and applyEconomyMode() to config/models.ts
- Add readEconomyMode() / writeEconomyMode() for config.json persistence
- Update resolveModel() in config/models.ts with economyMode option
- Update resolveModel() in agents/model-selector.ts with economyMode option

CLI changes:
- Add 'squad economy [on|off]' command for persistent toggle
- Add --economy global flag for session-level activation (SQUAD_ECONOMY_MODE=1)

Tests:
- 34 new tests in test/economy-mode.test.ts (all passing)

Economy model table:
  claude-opus-4.6   -> claude-sonnet-4.5 (architecture/review)
  claude-sonnet-4.6 -> gpt-4.1           (code writing)
  claude-haiku-4.5  -> gpt-4.1           (docs/mechanical)

Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>

* Scribe: Wave 1 decisions merged (#329/#344/#500)

- Merged 9 inbox decisions → decisions.md (personal squad impl plan, economy mode design/governance, persistent model preference, user directives, template sync, ESM fix)
- Deleted inbox files (merge complete)
- Updated agent histories: Flight (personal squad plan), EECOM (economy mode), Procedures (governance proposals)
- Appended team updates to agent contexts

Fleet Status:
- Flight: Personal squad design validated, 19-task plan across 4 PRs (MVP = PR #1+3)
- EECOM: Economy mode complete (34 tests), PR #504 open
- Procedures: Economy + consult-mode governance drafted, PR #503 open
- Directives: #464 rate limit UX (soft dep #500), #502 bug P1 next-up, triage includes discussions

Ready for execution: EECOM Phase 1, Procedures Phase 3 (concurrent).

Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>

* fix: hard-fail on Node <22.5.0 with clear message (#502)

node:sqlite (required by the Copilot SDK for session storage) was added
in Node 22.5.0. Previously Squad only warned and continued, leading to
cryptic ERR_UNKNOWN_BUILTIN_MODULE crashes later.

Changes:
- cli-entry.ts: replace soft warn+continue with hard process.exit(1) and
  a clear upgrade message when Node <22.5.0 is detected at startup.
  Remove now-redundant checkNodeSqlite() function and its call site.
- doctor.ts: add checkNodeVersion() check to squad doctor diagnostics
  so users can detect the version gap proactively.
- package.json (root, squad-cli, squad-sdk): correct engines field from
  >=20 to >=22.5.0, enabling npm/npx to warn at install time.
- test/cli/doctor.test.ts: add 5 tests for checkNodeVersion pass/fail
  paths; update check-count assertion.

Closes #502

Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>

---------

Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>
@bradygaster bradygaster merged commit a30252f into dev Mar 22, 2026
0 of 2 checks passed
@bradygaster bradygaster deleted the squad/500-economy-mode branch March 22, 2026 10:17
bradygaster added a commit that referenced this pull request Mar 22, 2026
@bradygaster
docs: log session 2 — wave 1+2 results, 4 PRs merged
d262715 
Orchestration log for 2026-03-22 session covering:
- #500 economy mode (PR #504)
- #502 node:sqlite fix (PR #506)
- #464 rate limit UX (PR #505)
- #500/#344 governance (PR #503)
- #329/#344 architecture plan (Flight, no PR yet)

Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>
@diberry diberry mentioned this pull request Mar 23, 2026
Merged
chrislomonico pushed a commit to clomonico/squad that referenced this pull request Mar 26, 2026
@bradygaster
feat(cli): wire 5 ghost commands — hire, heartbeat, shell, loop, run (b…
7f5d406 
…radygaster#540)

Wires 5 ghost commands: hire→init, heartbeat→doctor, shell→REPL, loop→triage, run→stub with redirect.

Closes bradygaster#501, Closes bradygaster#503, Closes bradygaster#504, Closes bradygaster#507, Closes bradygaster#509

Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>
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feat: Economy mode for cost-conscious model selection

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@bradygaster